It's always a pleasure to come back to this amazing restaurant!!!…read more First of all, all the servers are so nice and welcoming. The food is just so amazing, comforting, delicious and just the best for when you're super hungry!! The place has nice happy music but it might be a little loud. Can't wait to go back!

Came here with a Syrian friend to introduce him to Salvadoran food, let me explain: he loved it…read more Awesome pupusas, and sopa de gallina India, great tamalada salvadoreños, and tasty plátanos con crema! Our server spoke only Spanish, but we wanted an authentic experience so this was great ! She also recommended the best dishes, ambiance is what u expect from a Latin American place, loud Latin music, warm environment, cleanliness throughout and incomparable friendliness el salvadoreno is a nice place to family dine !

First time trying pupusas and I'm so glad I came here! It's a traditional Salvadorian restaurant…read moreserving up amazing pupusas at a great price. Lots of indoor seating -- a simple, no‑frills spot -- but the food is where they really shine. We ordered the chicken tamale, carne asada pupusa, bean and cheese pupusa, and the plantain con frijoles y crema platter. Everything was delicious, and I would definitely come back. Service was a little slow, and they forgot one of our items at first, but they did bring it out eventually. Overall, a great first pupusa experience!

The food is so good that we came twice this week! Their pupusas are very big and they have a big…read moremenu of options. Staff are friendly from the moment you walk in. The food takes some time, but it is all made fresh to order. We tried a little bit of everything: the pupusa revueltas, chicken pupusa, yucca frita, plántanos, and the plantano empanadas. Their curtido is very good as well. The ambiance is very family friendly. They have many tables, for large and small parties. The rain may have caused some issues for them recently, as there were drying fans sitting out, and cardboard on the floor near the entryway. Update: it's been about one week now and I called this morning to place a takeout order. They said it would take only about 15 mins. We ordered 6 pupusas revueltas and a large Salvadoran horchata and our total was about $28.

**An Absolute Must-Try -- Pupusa Perfection!**…read more I don't even know where to start this place completely blew me away! We ordered the **Pupusa de Queso** and the **Pupusa de Queso con Chicharrón**, and both were absolutely heavenly. The cheese was perfectly melty, gooey, and fresh, and the chicharrón filling had this incredible savory depth that kept me reaching for bite after bite. These are easily the best pupusas I've had in San Diego the masa was soft, pillowy, and cooked to golden perfection on the outside. And don't even get me started on the **Plátanos Fritos** -- sweet, caramelized, crispy on the edges, and utterly addictive. The perfect complement to the pupusas. Honestly, I could have eaten a second plate. The restaurant itself was spotless and well-maintained you could tell they take real pride in the space. We sat out on the **patio**, which had a lovely vibe and was a great way to enjoy the meal. The only tiny suggestion I'd offer is to maybe add some cushions or padding to the metal chairs outside your food is so good, people are going to be sitting there a while, and your seats should be as comfortable as your cooking! Service was warm, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. This spot is the real deal ..

My first time trying Salvadorian food and I LOVED it; can't wait to go back. I ordered the Caldo de…read morePollo which came in a hearty bowl of veggies and potato, and with a plate of fried chicken, rice, tortilla, and salad. I also tried the Jalapeno and Queso Papusa. Washed it down with their Salvadorian Horchata. The Caldo de Pollo doesn't have any meat inside the soup, but the broth itself was simply delicious and fresh. Came with a lemon slice and it was perfect after squeezing it in there. The plate came with two pieces of fried chicken and it was cooked nicely. Loved the rice as well, it was like a pilaf. Jalapeno and cheese papusa was sooo good with the melty cheese and chopped fresh jalapeno. The horchata tasted deliciously housemade. Pretty big and a full restaurant during lunchtime on a Saturday. Service is very friendly. Food came out in about 10 minutes. Small parking lot but was lucky to get a spot. Will definitely be back!

Brought my man-child for a quick lunch on Friday..... This place is simple yet very good. Pretty…read morepopular too. Great service & vibes. So lucky to have it near our home. What we ordered: Pupusa de Pescado x2 Pupusa de Cameron x1 #DiningWithTheAndersons #Pupusas #SilviasPupuseria #NationalCity #SalvadorianFood

I enjoyed this place so much! I have not been in over 3 years, but after having a craving for…read morepupusas, I am glad I came back here. My partner and I tried four different kinds (revuelta, chicharron, queso con jalapenos, and loroco). I had a to-go order, but I put on all the toppings at home and it was great. The curtido was nice and fresh, I wish I could just buy this alone and use it as a topping for so many things at home. The horchata was also delicious and not overly sweet. I liked the nutty taste of the seeds. The interior was well kept, clean, and felt very at home. I came in when no one else was there and my order was made fresh and the wait was not long. Cant wait to go back and try other menu items or pupusa fillings.

Delicious hot freshly made pupusas and I also their yucca frita plate. The owner Julie is so lovely…read moreand kind! This is our go to spot and this is coming from a Salvadoreña! So definitely check it out!

Muy buen servicio, rapido,limpio y muy rico. Cada vez que…read morelos visito salgo satisfecha 100%. 10 de 10.

As a Colombian who has been craving authentic Colombian cuisine since my last visit to New York in…read moreDecember, I can confidently say this restaurant truly satisfied those cravings. Being nearly eight months pregnant, my expectations were especially high, and it is rare to find a place that meets them so well. From the seasoning of the food to the warm and attentive service, everything about this restaurant stands out. Although I don't recall my server's name, he was incredibly kind and provided excellent service throughout. The ambiance is also worth noting--the space is large, offers plenty of seating options, and even features a large TV, making it a great spot to relax or watch sports. To start, I ordered a watered mango juice along with a beef empanada. The empanada exceeded my expectations--despite being on the smaller side, it was packed with flavor. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered five more to go, which speaks for itself. They were served with fresh ají, a traditional sauce that complemented them perfectly. For my main course, I had the carne asada plate, which included steak, rice, beans, sweet plantains, avocado, tomato slices, and a small arepa. Every component of the dish was well-executed--the beans were flavorful, the meat was well-seasoned, and the overall plate felt authentic. It is often difficult to find truly authentic Colombian food, especially in San Diego, where options are limited or not genuinely Colombian. This restaurant, however, delivers on authenticity and flavor. The portion size was generous, and I ended up taking leftovers home to enjoy later. In addition to the empanadas (two chicken and three beef), I also ordered a buñuelo and a cheese arepa to go. Unfortunately, these items did not meet the same standard. The arepa lacked flavor and was overly greasy, and the buñuelo was dry and similarly oily, even after absorbing excess grease from the bag. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for Colombian food, especially given how rare it is to find quality options in this area. Friends of mine visited recently as well and thoroughly enjoyed their bandeja paisa, further confirming the consistency of the food. I will definitely be returning--especially for those empanadas. Como colombiana que ha estado antojándose de comida colombiana auténtica desde mi último viaje a Nueva York en diciembre, puedo decir con confianza que este restaurante realmente cumplió con mis expectativas. Además, estando casi de ocho meses de embarazo, mis expectativas eran aún más altas, y no es fácil encontrar un lugar que las cumpla tan bien. Desde el sazón de la comida hasta el servicio cálido y atento, todo en este restaurante destaca. Aunque no recuerdo el nombre del mesero, fue sumamente amable y atento. un servicio excelente en todo momento. El ambiente también merece mención: el lugar es amplio, y limpio. cuenta con muchas opciones de asientos y tiene una pantalla grande, lo que lo hace ideal para relajarse o ver deportes. Para empezar, pedí un jugo de mango (rebajado con agua) junto con una empanada de carne. La empanada superó mis expectativas; aunque es un poco pequeña, tiene muchísimo sabor. Me gustó tanto que pedí cinco más para llevar, lo cual habla por sí solo. Venían acompañadas de ají fresco, que las complementa perfectamente. Como plato fuerte, pedí la carne asada, que incluía arroz, frijoles, plátano maduro, aguacate, rodajas de tomate y una arepita. Cada componente del plato estaba muy bien logrado: los frijoles tenían un excelente sabor, la carne estaba bien sazonada y jugosa y, en general, el plato se sentía auténtico. Hoy en día es difícil encontrar comida colombiana verdaderamente auténtica, especialmente en San Diego, donde las opciones son limitadas o no lo son del todo. Sin embargo, este restaurante sí cumple con ese nivel de autenticidad y sabor. La porción fue bastante generosa, por lo que terminé llevándome lo que no pude terminar para comer más tarde. Además de las empanadas (dos de pollo y tres de carne), también pedí un buñuelo y una arepa de queso para llevar. Lamentablemente, estos no estuvieron al mismo nivel. La arepa carecía de sabor y estaba grasosa, y el buñuelo estaba seco y también muy aceitoso, incluso después de que la bolsa absorbiera parte de la grasa. En general, recomiendo este restaurante sin duda a cualquiera que esté buscando comida colombiana, especialmente considerando lo difícil que es encontrar buenas opciones en esta área. Unos amigos míos también vinieron recientemente y les encantó su bandeja paisa, lo que confirma la calidad constante del lugar. Definitivamente volveré, especialmente por esas empanadas.

BEST EMPANADAS IN ALL OF SAN DIEGO. I spent my whole day trying to find good empanadas here in san…read morediego that would remind me of new york and this was the only location that didn't disappoint. $1.99 per empanada, they are super filling and can tell are made with love. Service was amazing and quick and the atmosphere is very welcoming i love this place. LAS MEJORES EMPANADAS DE TODO SAN DIEGO. Pasé todo el día buscando buenas empanadas aquí en San Diego que me recordaran a Nueva York, y este fue el único lugar que no decepcionó. $1.99 por empanada, son muy llenadoras y se nota que están hechas con amor. El servicio fue increíble y rápido, y el ambiente es muy acogedor. Me encanta este lugar.

Delicious hot freshly made pupusas and I also their yucca frita plate. The owner Julie is so lovely…read moreand kind! This is our go to spot and this is coming from a Salvadoreña! So definitely check it out!

These pupusas were insanely good. We tried the cilantro jalapeño and spicy chorizo. You can taste…read morethe freshness of the ingredients and the love and care that went into it. Very friendly service and easy retrieval.

So close to a five star review, the food was amazing, customer service was great. Everything was…read morefreshly made and amazing but I have to deduct one star. You cannot serve tostadas that come from the store out of a bag. They're simply not that good. You guys make the taco shells for the dorado tacos. Do the same for the tostadas that come with pozole. I was so close to giving five stars, but the taste of the tostada out of a bag just isn't good. Homemade tostada would've been so much better. Food: the red posole is simply amazing! A little bit different what I'm used to in Houston, but it was phenomenal. The dorado desebrada was the real winner it comes tacos. It was amazing! Top notch. Perfectly made! The customer service was great too! I would definitely come back here! Great authentic food!

pretty authentic mexican food. not my personal preference, but cool option…read morethe verde chicken guisado was okay. tough chicken. mole enchilada - mole too sweet red salsa chilaquiles were great. homey comfort feel.

The food was amazing and the staff were even more amazing. You can't go wrong with anything on the…read moremenu but the cauliflower taco, churros, and banana ice cream were top tier. I came here solo to celebrate my birthday and all the staff were hospitable, friendly, and attentive. Monica and Frank are some of the best people and made my birthday one to remember.

Elevated are the food, service, and ambiance at modern Taqueria Lola 55, as expected of a place…read morewith consecutive years of Michelin recognition. FOOD SPECIALS 5/5 Quesa Birria Taco slow cooked chuck birria (flavorful and tender), melted oaxacan cheese (lots), avocado mousse, habanero pickled onions (not spicy imo) & pasilla salt (expect grease!) 5/5 Two taco plate with chipotle rice and Lola's Beans (it's a deal when you add a third taco): 5/5 Steak Taco marinated wood fired steak (cooked well per server recommendation as this is flank), potato mash (not sure I had this), avocado mousse, (very) smokey pasilla salsa, crispy onions (nice texture and flavor), jalapeño toreado (pickled) 5/5 Baja Style Fish beer battered local fish (so tender), jalapeño remoulade chorizo-tomato vinaigrette, bitter greens, pickled serranos, purple basil.

We were on the hunt for Puerto Rican pasteles. We ordered 6 hot and 4 frozen (they ran out of the…read morehot). We also purchased goya chips, goya rice, and coco rico. The pasteles were deliciously meaty. Would've preferred more olives and sofrito. Half of the space is for dining the other half is a market. Ample customer parking. Friendly service, clean, and organized.

The worst service I have ever experienced in my life. The server could not have been ruder, more…read moreill-mannered, or more unprofessional. He was restocking the fridge and actually put one of the items in his mouth so he could free up his hands to put away the rest of the products--I found that absolutely disgusting and unhygienic, and that's where it all started. Afterward, he treated us poorly--lazily, without a smile, nothing. The food was cold and flavorless... I will NEVER return to this place!